grinder

Whether it’s a neighborhood café trying to scrape together the capital for a roaster or an aspiring inventor looking to fund the first round of production, coffee projects are no stranger to Kickstarter. But only the more ambitious set their make-or-break goal at a cool 100 grand. But then again, the Voltaire Smart Grinder is not your typical coffee Kickstarter project. …

The most important piece of brewing equipment you own is your grinder. As we’ve written elsewhere, there are many great reasons to invest in a hand grinder. If, like us, your life philosophy is “if you’re going to get wet you might as well swim,” then you’re probably looking for the most hardcore hand grinder on the market. It’s hard to find a more serious piece of equipment than the Orphan Espresso Lido 2.

The Specs

At $175.00 the Lido 2 isn’t cheap, but it features specs that normally are only found on a commercial grade coffee grinder. Larger burrs mean a more consistent grind size, and the Lido 2 features 48mm Italian steel burrs- far larger than almost all its competitors. Another plague of hand grinders is the inconsistent particle sizes due to wobbly axles. The Lido 2’s dual axle eliminates the inconsistencies and ensures an even grind. The Lido 2 also offers a remarkable amount of control over the grind with stepless adjustment. This is especially helpful when …